x⚗️xVIHAANxxxSURxxxNARAINx🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxx⚗️BASICS🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PRONUNCIATION vee-HAAN sur nah-RAYNE
NICKNAMES Vee,
GENDER male
SEXUAL ORIENTATION heteroflexible demiromantic asexual
AGE 86
BIRTHDAY November 1st, 1972 -- Scorpio
LANGUAGES English, Arabic. Basic British Sign Language, Urdu, Hindi, and Japanese. Bits and pieces of other languages.
BLOOD STATUS halfblood
WAND Cypress wood with african manticore hair. 10.25 inches and pliant, with three sections of blue spirals- one at the end and two at the top of the handle. It was burned in the Animagus Accident and repainted in a darker color.
PATRONUS fox
MORE-THAN-AVERAGE animagus-- red fox (registered)
FACECLAIM Anupam Kher
HEIGHT 6 ft 3 in (190 cm)
WEIGHT 240 lbs (109 kg)
APPEARANCE bald. Occasionally wears glasses.
In his fox form, there is a dark spot on either side of his muzzle that somewhat resembles his mustache, and the darker mask around his eyes is slightly more pronounced.
xxx⚗️SCHOOL AND CAREER🦊xxxxxxxxxxxx
ATTENDED Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
CLASS OF 1991
HOUSE Slytherin
CLUBS
■ Dueling Club
O.W.L. SCORES
Astronomy ~ A
Charms ~ O
Defense Against the Dark Arts ~ A
Herbology ~ E
History of Magic ~ E
Potions ~ E
Transfiguration ~ O
Alchemy ~ E
Arithmancy ~ A
Cursebreaking ~ A
Divination ~ E
Healing ~ O
Music ~ A
Wandless Magic ~ E
N.E.W.T. SCORES
Charms ~ A
Herbology ~ A
History of Magic ~ E
Potions ~ E
Transfiguration ~ E
Alchemy ~ P
Arithmancy ~ A
Cursebreaking ~ A
Divination ~ D
Healing ~ T
Other Electives
Animagus: (year 6). Advanced. Red fox form, remarkably adroit in this form and able to shift forms in high-stress situations.
Apparition: (post-grad) passable without harm to himself
DREAM JOB Back to retirement and travel?
OCCUPATION Professor of Alchemy (2046 - present) and Head of Slytherin House (2058 to present) at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
■Formerly: Retired/ Consulting Alchemist (2044-2046)
■Formerly: Unspeakable for the UK Department of Mysteries (2035-2044)
■Formerly: Administrative assistant (2 years), On-site Dig Potioneer (3 years), Deputy Excavation manager (23 years, as needed), Practical Alchemist (22 years) for [Cursebreaking Firm near Dar Ar-Rikham]. (2003-2033)
■Formerly: Housekeeper and Research Assistant for [Japanese Potioneering Lab] (1997-2003)
■Formerly: Domestic Assistant for [Traveling Healers troupe] (1993-1997)
■Formerly: Barista, Babysitter, Store Clerk, Bird watcher, Waiter, Janitor positions at various locations (< 4 months in each position, some concurrently between 1991-1993)
xxx⚗️PERSONALITY🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ADAPTABLE Throughout his life, Vihaan’s adroit wit and ability to adapt himself to the situations and people around him. While he defaults to a polite, and aloof professional, and tries to always be friendly and of good cheer, Vihaan finds his personality still changes intensely by his surroundings. Intellectually, his ability to transfer his learning to different contexts has been his greatest asset. He is open to new ideas and experiences, and learns as fluidly from books and lectures as he does from experiences and action. Likewise, he works well with people with different perspectives and methods, carefully morphing his demeanor to work most smoothly with them. Sharing this ability with his students tends to be more difficult though.
COMPARTMENTAL Vihaan is, in general, an amiable person in all contexts of his life, but he knows and has accepted that he primarily cares about certain groups of people as related to him. He is a patient mentor to his students–those in his classes–but this patience and support does not necessarily extend to other people or even other students. He is also highly compartmental in how he goes about his time– as he traveled and grew, what “Sunrise and Sunset walks” or “On/ Off hours” looked like has been very different, but the concepts have been with him since his early 20s.
CALCULATING Results are everything, Kindness is meaningless if not purposeful, and Everyone lies. Vihaan accepts any label someone might throw at him—elitist, cold hearted, jaded, manipulative—and brushes it off unless he can use that reputation. He doesn’t disbelieve in human goodness—in fact, his optimism is as much as part of his personality as his cynicism–he just believes that everyone should act to the best of their abilities, and that means acting to accomplish a goal. For him, his professional goal is now mostly to instill resilience, curiosity, and adaptability in his students while showing them how alchemical skills can help in any profession. Personally, he just wants to enjoy his remaining time.
CONSERVATIVE As terrible as existing systems always seem to be, Vihaan’s fascination with history has led him to accept that history exists for a reason and the systems in place exist for a reason. Yet someone must always be pushing the envelope, just as someone must always be fighting for things to stay the same. The struggle and the ever-changing state of change is the only constant. Politically he has always identified as conservative, but perhaps it is best to call him a progressive conservative: The opportunity to express new ideas and be critiqued for them is paramount. If there is a bad idea–for whatever reason, getting shot down is the logical and correct response. But expressing that idea is never a waste of time. To rob society of the struggle is to deny it the opportunity to grow.
SOLIVAGANT There was once a time Vihaan thought he would never do anything without his best friend, but that was over 60 years ago now. Ever since, it has mostly been just him (and previously his spouse) wandering the globe. This solitary wandering has made Vihaan quite reflective, but also appreciative of both social opportunities and quiet moments. Despite his old-fashioned sensibilities, Vihaan enjoys seeing all kinds of places and people, and is always open to trying new things.
⚗️🦊HOBBIES
■ Photography
■ Planning his next vacation/ excursion– learning bits of the language and culture, planning an itinerary. etc.
■ Cooking– replicating tastes he’s encountered around the world is something of a passion.
⚗️LIKES
■ Divination– he enjoys reading divination, although it’s usually other’s because his own interpretations are usually inaccurate or vague or both.
■ Museums, galleries, shows, concerts, festivals– momentary experiences.
■ A nice, warm cuppa or some strong liquor
■ A clear, clean conclusion to a project, event, day, etc.
■ Window-shopping. He can daydream the possibilities and get a walk in without having to spend money
🦊DISLIKES
■ Creatures– the only animal he has ever gotten along with is his own animagus form and the parts used for potions and alchemy.
■ Disorganization in his laboratory
■ Rudeness– He might believe that kindness without purpose is meaningless, but he also believed that there is a difference between kindness and “just nice”
■ Excessiveness– Hedonism is wasteful. Around the world, some live in squalor while others bathe in their excess. The world is not cohesive.
■ Flying by broom. Portkey is superior.
⚗️STRENGTHS
■ Constantly strives towards self-improvement and open to new encounters
■ Adaptable and experienced– What he lacked in grades Vihaan makes up for in experience and wit, and he is readily able to transfer his experience to new contexts.
🦊WEAKNESSES
■Vihaan can get quite technical and set in his opinions (quibbling over a definition is almost a hobby) and enjoys putting everything in a box. He also insists on his definitions even though nowhere are they clearly delineated.
■ If there’s one lesson Vihaan can’t seem to learn, it’s to ask for help early. If he’s struggling, he closes off and insists he can bull his way through instead of reaching out, which makes it hard to help him.
⚗️DREAMS
■ If he could see his friend again, have a conversation, something of the sort….
■ He’s always wanted children of his own. Although now…maybe just someone to share trips with again.
🦊FEARS
■ Giving up. Vihaan had depression once before, and it was the worst few years of his life where it felt like he was constantly fighting himself for the will to live. It comes back sometimes, and while he is used to it, he also fears one day he won’t be able to manage it.
■ Not doing enough. Maybe there was one more thing that his friend or spouse or father would have wanted that he’ll never be able to do. But he needs to live for himself too. There’s too much to do. And while intellectually he knows he won’t disappoint them, the irrational fear plagues him still.
xxx⚗️BACKSTORY🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
⚗️🦊EARLY CHILDHOOD Qarin and Vihaan Narain were born within minutes of each other to two sets of twins who married each other. From birth, the boys were inseparable. Their mothers were twins, their fathers were twins, and they too happened to look very much alike, something the two of them embraced– the cousins loved each other like dear brothers, and enjoyed pranking people by pretending they were each other. They knew each other inside and out–their individual quirks and mannerisms, and knew how to be each other so well that they managed to even fool their parents on occasion. Then again, their parents did occasionally fool them as well.
Growing up under the shadow of the First Wizarding War, the Narains traveled frequently, relocating to different places across the British Isles. At one point, three of the adults were captured by Death Eaters and killed or executed. Vihaan’s father, the only remaining adult, resolved to flee the country with the boys until they received their Hogwarts letter.
⚗️🦊SCHOOL YEARS
⚗️ACADEMICS To their surprise and delight, both boys were sorted into Slytherin, which only strengthened their bond and continued their tendency to impersonate each other. In general, Qarin was considered the clever and sociable lad, adept at talking and doing, able to make the most of everything. Vihaan was more quiet and conservative, keeping his ambitious daydreams to just the two of them. They were competitive in their grades though, and according to all their professors, neither tried to impersonate the other on assignments. Qarin was better at potions and astronomy, Vihaan had the edge in charms and history. Both were excellent at Transfiguration and terrible at music. Both were polite boys with a charming resilience and optimistic outlook, and had their moments of exuberance and contemplation. They didn’t take all of the same clubs and electives, but continued their competition in the ones they did share.
🦊LOVE and RELATIONSHIPSAs early as their third year, Qarin started dating, although these dates never seemed to bloom into more serious relationships. In fourth year, Qarin and Anthony Jacobson from Hufflepuff were considered officially boyfriends for a mere few months before deciding they were better off as just friends. He and Violet Kyson, a Ravenclaw junior, dated for almost a full year before their relationship exploded in an emotional and quite public breakup. Following this, Qarin seemed to stop dating entirely, maintaining a level of distance that kept people as just friends. In all of Qarin’s relationships, Vihaan was always supportive and welcoming, and kept on good terms with everyone, helping to keep drama low and quell any rumors.
In their fifth year, Vihaan fell head over heels for Niyathi, a Ravenclaw senior. Nikhil, Niyathi’s older brother and guardian, agreed to let them date if Vihaan got Es or better on all his OWLs. Until then, they were not to ever be alone together. Accordingly, Vihaan studied relentlessly. The studying—and Violet and Qarin’s good natured teasing and chaperoning— might have brought an end to Qarin and Violet’s relationship, but it did bring the four of them closer as friends. Even though Vihaan got a few As, he and Niyathi started a secret but innocent nonetheless relationship over the summer.
⚗️The ANIMAGUS ACCIDENT In their seventh year, the Narain boys finally achieved their goal of becoming animagi and were thrilled to find they were both foxes–one a red fox, the other an arctic fox. That night, before they could send their registrations to the Ministry, Vihaan had the idea to sneak into the Restricted Section and find “cool new spellbooks”. Ecstatic with pride, and still a little clumsy in their four-legged forms, they set off an accidental curse contained in one of the tomes and ended up trapped in some kind of stasis field. The prefect who discovered them called for professor aid, but one of them perished in the stasis field, disintegrating before the other’s eyes. The other fell into a coma, still trapped in his animagus form. No one could identify them– as no one had seen the boys in either form before. A couple days later, the cursebreaking professor successfully and safely dispelled the curses that had been triggered, and reverted the animal form, waking the remaining boy, who identified himself as Vihaan.
Filled with grief and remorse, Vihaan was never again quite like his old self. He still strove towards his career and travel ambitions, but his shy nature was more withdrawn, and he suffered from severe anxiety. Going into the winter and rest of seventh year alone, he sank himself into studying. His changed demeanor strained his relationships, and he and Niyathi didn’t see each other for months due to him missing weekend meet-ups. Thanks to a particularly sudden depressive episode, his own NEWTs suffered greatly, but he managed to graduate.
⚗️🦊POST-GRADUATION
🦊ALCHEMIST-in-DEVELOPMENT Ashamed by his NEWT scores and still reeling over the loss of his best friend and cousin, Vihaan spent the next 2 years in a daze, barely able to keep down various jobs– he flitted between barista, babysitter, store clerk, bird watcher, waiter, and janitor. Finally, at Niyathi’s invitation, he joined her and a band of wizarding healers traveling across Asia, serving both wizard and Muggle kind. While he started out just doing domestic charms and helping out, travel meant they had to be flexible, and Vihaan learned as he went, and recovered as he learned. He restudied his academics and picked up skills as he learned to manage his anxiety and deal with his grief.
When Niyathi took a position as a healer-in-training in Japan, Vihaan stayed with her. He got a position as a housekeeper to Potioneer Yasunari Arine, and her husband, Mahoutokoro Astronomy Professor Hasegawa Yuzuru. Vihaan’s duties involved anywhere from laundry and housekeeping, to organizing star charts and grading homework, to brewing potions and gardening herbs. When Arine and her husband left for an overseas position, she secured Vihaan a role as potioneer’s assistant at her lab, where he honed his potions, alchemy, and herbology skills.
⚗️DAR AR-RIKHAM After acquiring her healer’s license and finishing a short residency in Japan, Niyathi took a post at Dar Ar-Rickham as a resident healer; Vihaan traveled with her, working for a nearby cursebreaking firm. He worked his way from administrative assistant to dig potioneer to excavation manager before finally settling in the Practical Alchemy department.
A few years after settling down, Niyathi and Vihaan were married. Almost 10 years into their marriage, Niyathi finally discussed transitioning, and with Vihaan’s support, transitioned to Rit over the next couple years. The two remained devotedly to each other, and Rit returned to his position with a renewed understanding and acceptance of himself. For 30 years, Rit and Vihaan made their careers at Dar Ar-Rickham, but frequently went back to England where their families were, and traveled voraciously over the breaks. They never had children of their own, although they fostered many students.
🦊UNSPEAKABLE and CONSULTANT In 2033, Nikhil, Rit’s brother, contracted a debilitating illness in the line of duty. Rit returned to England to join the healing team working on the poisoning. Tragically, by the time the healers realized the illness was contagious, Rit had contracted it as well. Nikhil struggled in and out of consciousness for 2 weeks before succumbing. Vihaan quickly traveled back as well to be with Rit in what they feared might be his last few days. Desperate, Rit proposed a risky concoction of procedures on himself. The ritual successfully provided a diagnosis and treatment that saved both him and the rest of the healing team, but left Rit with a prognosis of less than a year. Confronted with the possibility of amputation for a chance of living, Rit resolved instead to spend his remaining days free. Rit and Vihaan spent the next four months cruising the world before Rit’s illness eventually returned him to St. Mungo’s to pass away.
Following his spouse’s passing, Vihaan returned to stay with his father, then residing in wizarding Ireland. Vihaan’s reputation as an alchemist now more than compensated for his lackluster grades and he was invited to share his unique cursebreaking and practical alchemy experience for a specific project for the Department of Mysteries. One project led to another in his line of research and Vihaan spent the next 9 years in various chambers of the Department of Mysteries before finally deciding he wanted to retire to spend more time with his father, whose health was rather suddenly deteriorating. After his father passed away as well, Vihaan continued to wander alone: He spent some time in the United States consulting with an artificer and wandmaker. He visited Arine after her divorce, and helped one of his former foster children reconnect with a lover.
⚗️PROFESSOR of ALCHEMY When Professor Juan Amorocho retired in 2046, Vihaan agreed to substitute for him until Headmaster Timothy Steele could find a more permanent alchemy professor. One year turned to multiple, and after fiddling around and learning to teach, Vihaan found he enjoyed life back at Hogwarts–retirement was not for him it seemed, and being amongst the students seemed to bring some energy back into his life. He finally agreed to stay on in an official capacity.
As a professor, Vihaan primarily paid attention to his Alchemy students. He noticed a decline in the class size of alchemy over the years and after consulting with his professional contacts and fellow professors, embarked on a mission to rebrand Alchemy as not solely for arcane research. His teaching shifted focus as well, from intense alchemical theory and practice to practical puzzle-solving and critical thinking that could be applicable to many fields of magical work.
While his efforts have had mixed appreciation and results thus far, Vihaan’s keen mentorship of his alchemy students earned him recognition and when Head of Slytherin House Jason Hill retired in 2058, he recommended Vihaan for the position. Vihaan has promised to extend his purview of care to all Slytherin students, although he cheekily acknowledges that he probably will continue to favor his alchemy students of all houses.
xxx⚗️RELATIONSHIPS🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FAMILY
■ Spouse: Rit Kadandale (pureblood)
■ Cousin, best friend, and partner in crime: Qarin Narain (halfblood)
FRIENDS
■ Various alchemists, artificers, and people around the world.
■ Anthony Jacobson, Nikhil Kadandale, Violet Kyson, Arine Yasunari
■ Professors of Hogwarts
⚗NOTE: If it still matters, the Vihaan people know today is actually Qarin Narain.
xxx⚗️BASICS🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PRONUNCIATION vee-HAAN sur nah-RAYNE
NICKNAMES Vee,
GENDER male
SEXUAL ORIENTATION heteroflexible demiromantic asexual
AGE 86
BIRTHDAY November 1st, 1972 -- Scorpio
LANGUAGES English, Arabic. Basic British Sign Language, Urdu, Hindi, and Japanese. Bits and pieces of other languages.
BLOOD STATUS halfblood
WAND Cypress wood with african manticore hair. 10.25 inches and pliant, with three sections of blue spirals- one at the end and two at the top of the handle. It was burned in the Animagus Accident and repainted in a darker color.
PATRONUS fox
MORE-THAN-AVERAGE animagus-- red fox (registered)
FACECLAIM Anupam Kher
HEIGHT 6 ft 3 in (190 cm)
WEIGHT 240 lbs (109 kg)
APPEARANCE bald. Occasionally wears glasses.
In his fox form, there is a dark spot on either side of his muzzle that somewhat resembles his mustache, and the darker mask around his eyes is slightly more pronounced.
xxx⚗️SCHOOL AND CAREER🦊xxxxxxxxxxxx
ATTENDED Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
CLASS OF 1991
HOUSE Slytherin
CLUBS
■ Dueling Club
O.W.L. SCORES
Astronomy ~ A
Charms ~ O
Defense Against the Dark Arts ~ A
Herbology ~ E
History of Magic ~ E
Potions ~ E
Transfiguration ~ O
Alchemy ~ E
Arithmancy ~ A
Cursebreaking ~ A
Divination ~ E
Healing ~ O
Music ~ A
Wandless Magic ~ E
N.E.W.T. SCORES
Charms ~ A
Herbology ~ A
History of Magic ~ E
Potions ~ E
Transfiguration ~ E
Alchemy ~ P
Arithmancy ~ A
Cursebreaking ~ A
Divination ~ D
Healing ~ T
Other Electives
Animagus: (year 6). Advanced. Red fox form, remarkably adroit in this form and able to shift forms in high-stress situations.
Apparition: (post-grad) passable without harm to himself
DREAM JOB Back to retirement and travel?
OCCUPATION Professor of Alchemy (2046 - present) and Head of Slytherin House (2058 to present) at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
■Formerly: Retired/ Consulting Alchemist (2044-2046)
■Formerly: Unspeakable for the UK Department of Mysteries (2035-2044)
■Formerly: Administrative assistant (2 years), On-site Dig Potioneer (3 years), Deputy Excavation manager (23 years, as needed), Practical Alchemist (22 years) for [Cursebreaking Firm near Dar Ar-Rikham]. (2003-2033)
■Formerly: Housekeeper and Research Assistant for [Japanese Potioneering Lab] (1997-2003)
■Formerly: Domestic Assistant for [Traveling Healers troupe] (1993-1997)
■Formerly: Barista, Babysitter, Store Clerk, Bird watcher, Waiter, Janitor positions at various locations (< 4 months in each position, some concurrently between 1991-1993)
xxx⚗️PERSONALITY🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ADAPTABLE Throughout his life, Vihaan’s adroit wit and ability to adapt himself to the situations and people around him. While he defaults to a polite, and aloof professional, and tries to always be friendly and of good cheer, Vihaan finds his personality still changes intensely by his surroundings. Intellectually, his ability to transfer his learning to different contexts has been his greatest asset. He is open to new ideas and experiences, and learns as fluidly from books and lectures as he does from experiences and action. Likewise, he works well with people with different perspectives and methods, carefully morphing his demeanor to work most smoothly with them. Sharing this ability with his students tends to be more difficult though.
COMPARTMENTAL Vihaan is, in general, an amiable person in all contexts of his life, but he knows and has accepted that he primarily cares about certain groups of people as related to him. He is a patient mentor to his students–those in his classes–but this patience and support does not necessarily extend to other people or even other students. He is also highly compartmental in how he goes about his time– as he traveled and grew, what “Sunrise and Sunset walks” or “On/ Off hours” looked like has been very different, but the concepts have been with him since his early 20s.
CALCULATING Results are everything, Kindness is meaningless if not purposeful, and Everyone lies. Vihaan accepts any label someone might throw at him—elitist, cold hearted, jaded, manipulative—and brushes it off unless he can use that reputation. He doesn’t disbelieve in human goodness—in fact, his optimism is as much as part of his personality as his cynicism–he just believes that everyone should act to the best of their abilities, and that means acting to accomplish a goal. For him, his professional goal is now mostly to instill resilience, curiosity, and adaptability in his students while showing them how alchemical skills can help in any profession. Personally, he just wants to enjoy his remaining time.
CONSERVATIVE As terrible as existing systems always seem to be, Vihaan’s fascination with history has led him to accept that history exists for a reason and the systems in place exist for a reason. Yet someone must always be pushing the envelope, just as someone must always be fighting for things to stay the same. The struggle and the ever-changing state of change is the only constant. Politically he has always identified as conservative, but perhaps it is best to call him a progressive conservative: The opportunity to express new ideas and be critiqued for them is paramount. If there is a bad idea–for whatever reason, getting shot down is the logical and correct response. But expressing that idea is never a waste of time. To rob society of the struggle is to deny it the opportunity to grow.
SOLIVAGANT There was once a time Vihaan thought he would never do anything without his best friend, but that was over 60 years ago now. Ever since, it has mostly been just him (and previously his spouse) wandering the globe. This solitary wandering has made Vihaan quite reflective, but also appreciative of both social opportunities and quiet moments. Despite his old-fashioned sensibilities, Vihaan enjoys seeing all kinds of places and people, and is always open to trying new things.
⚗️🦊HOBBIES
■ Photography
■ Planning his next vacation/ excursion– learning bits of the language and culture, planning an itinerary. etc.
■ Cooking– replicating tastes he’s encountered around the world is something of a passion.
⚗️LIKES
■ Divination– he enjoys reading divination, although it’s usually other’s because his own interpretations are usually inaccurate or vague or both.
■ Museums, galleries, shows, concerts, festivals– momentary experiences.
■ A nice, warm cuppa or some strong liquor
■ A clear, clean conclusion to a project, event, day, etc.
■ Window-shopping. He can daydream the possibilities and get a walk in without having to spend money
🦊DISLIKES
■ Creatures– the only animal he has ever gotten along with is his own animagus form and the parts used for potions and alchemy.
■ Disorganization in his laboratory
■ Rudeness– He might believe that kindness without purpose is meaningless, but he also believed that there is a difference between kindness and “just nice”
■ Excessiveness– Hedonism is wasteful. Around the world, some live in squalor while others bathe in their excess. The world is not cohesive.
■ Flying by broom. Portkey is superior.
⚗️STRENGTHS
■ Constantly strives towards self-improvement and open to new encounters
■ Adaptable and experienced– What he lacked in grades Vihaan makes up for in experience and wit, and he is readily able to transfer his experience to new contexts.
🦊WEAKNESSES
■Vihaan can get quite technical and set in his opinions (quibbling over a definition is almost a hobby) and enjoys putting everything in a box. He also insists on his definitions even though nowhere are they clearly delineated.
■ If there’s one lesson Vihaan can’t seem to learn, it’s to ask for help early. If he’s struggling, he closes off and insists he can bull his way through instead of reaching out, which makes it hard to help him.
⚗️DREAMS
■ If he could see his friend again, have a conversation, something of the sort….
■ He’s always wanted children of his own. Although now…maybe just someone to share trips with again.
🦊FEARS
■ Giving up. Vihaan had depression once before, and it was the worst few years of his life where it felt like he was constantly fighting himself for the will to live. It comes back sometimes, and while he is used to it, he also fears one day he won’t be able to manage it.
■ Not doing enough. Maybe there was one more thing that his friend or spouse or father would have wanted that he’ll never be able to do. But he needs to live for himself too. There’s too much to do. And while intellectually he knows he won’t disappoint them, the irrational fear plagues him still.
xxx⚗️BACKSTORY🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
⚗️🦊EARLY CHILDHOOD Qarin and Vihaan Narain were born within minutes of each other to two sets of twins who married each other. From birth, the boys were inseparable. Their mothers were twins, their fathers were twins, and they too happened to look very much alike, something the two of them embraced– the cousins loved each other like dear brothers, and enjoyed pranking people by pretending they were each other. They knew each other inside and out–their individual quirks and mannerisms, and knew how to be each other so well that they managed to even fool their parents on occasion. Then again, their parents did occasionally fool them as well.
Growing up under the shadow of the First Wizarding War, the Narains traveled frequently, relocating to different places across the British Isles. At one point, three of the adults were captured by Death Eaters and killed or executed. Vihaan’s father, the only remaining adult, resolved to flee the country with the boys until they received their Hogwarts letter.
⚗️🦊SCHOOL YEARS
⚗️ACADEMICS To their surprise and delight, both boys were sorted into Slytherin, which only strengthened their bond and continued their tendency to impersonate each other. In general, Qarin was considered the clever and sociable lad, adept at talking and doing, able to make the most of everything. Vihaan was more quiet and conservative, keeping his ambitious daydreams to just the two of them. They were competitive in their grades though, and according to all their professors, neither tried to impersonate the other on assignments. Qarin was better at potions and astronomy, Vihaan had the edge in charms and history. Both were excellent at Transfiguration and terrible at music. Both were polite boys with a charming resilience and optimistic outlook, and had their moments of exuberance and contemplation. They didn’t take all of the same clubs and electives, but continued their competition in the ones they did share.
🦊LOVE and RELATIONSHIPSAs early as their third year, Qarin started dating, although these dates never seemed to bloom into more serious relationships. In fourth year, Qarin and Anthony Jacobson from Hufflepuff were considered officially boyfriends for a mere few months before deciding they were better off as just friends. He and Violet Kyson, a Ravenclaw junior, dated for almost a full year before their relationship exploded in an emotional and quite public breakup. Following this, Qarin seemed to stop dating entirely, maintaining a level of distance that kept people as just friends. In all of Qarin’s relationships, Vihaan was always supportive and welcoming, and kept on good terms with everyone, helping to keep drama low and quell any rumors.
In their fifth year, Vihaan fell head over heels for Niyathi, a Ravenclaw senior. Nikhil, Niyathi’s older brother and guardian, agreed to let them date if Vihaan got Es or better on all his OWLs. Until then, they were not to ever be alone together. Accordingly, Vihaan studied relentlessly. The studying—and Violet and Qarin’s good natured teasing and chaperoning— might have brought an end to Qarin and Violet’s relationship, but it did bring the four of them closer as friends. Even though Vihaan got a few As, he and Niyathi started a secret but innocent nonetheless relationship over the summer.
⚗️The ANIMAGUS ACCIDENT In their seventh year, the Narain boys finally achieved their goal of becoming animagi and were thrilled to find they were both foxes–one a red fox, the other an arctic fox. That night, before they could send their registrations to the Ministry, Vihaan had the idea to sneak into the Restricted Section and find “cool new spellbooks”. Ecstatic with pride, and still a little clumsy in their four-legged forms, they set off an accidental curse contained in one of the tomes and ended up trapped in some kind of stasis field. The prefect who discovered them called for professor aid, but one of them perished in the stasis field, disintegrating before the other’s eyes. The other fell into a coma, still trapped in his animagus form. No one could identify them– as no one had seen the boys in either form before. A couple days later, the cursebreaking professor successfully and safely dispelled the curses that had been triggered, and reverted the animal form, waking the remaining boy, who identified himself as Vihaan.
Filled with grief and remorse, Vihaan was never again quite like his old self. He still strove towards his career and travel ambitions, but his shy nature was more withdrawn, and he suffered from severe anxiety. Going into the winter and rest of seventh year alone, he sank himself into studying. His changed demeanor strained his relationships, and he and Niyathi didn’t see each other for months due to him missing weekend meet-ups. Thanks to a particularly sudden depressive episode, his own NEWTs suffered greatly, but he managed to graduate.
⚗️🦊POST-GRADUATION
🦊ALCHEMIST-in-DEVELOPMENT Ashamed by his NEWT scores and still reeling over the loss of his best friend and cousin, Vihaan spent the next 2 years in a daze, barely able to keep down various jobs– he flitted between barista, babysitter, store clerk, bird watcher, waiter, and janitor. Finally, at Niyathi’s invitation, he joined her and a band of wizarding healers traveling across Asia, serving both wizard and Muggle kind. While he started out just doing domestic charms and helping out, travel meant they had to be flexible, and Vihaan learned as he went, and recovered as he learned. He restudied his academics and picked up skills as he learned to manage his anxiety and deal with his grief.
When Niyathi took a position as a healer-in-training in Japan, Vihaan stayed with her. He got a position as a housekeeper to Potioneer Yasunari Arine, and her husband, Mahoutokoro Astronomy Professor Hasegawa Yuzuru. Vihaan’s duties involved anywhere from laundry and housekeeping, to organizing star charts and grading homework, to brewing potions and gardening herbs. When Arine and her husband left for an overseas position, she secured Vihaan a role as potioneer’s assistant at her lab, where he honed his potions, alchemy, and herbology skills.
⚗️DAR AR-RIKHAM After acquiring her healer’s license and finishing a short residency in Japan, Niyathi took a post at Dar Ar-Rickham as a resident healer; Vihaan traveled with her, working for a nearby cursebreaking firm. He worked his way from administrative assistant to dig potioneer to excavation manager before finally settling in the Practical Alchemy department.
A few years after settling down, Niyathi and Vihaan were married. Almost 10 years into their marriage, Niyathi finally discussed transitioning, and with Vihaan’s support, transitioned to Rit over the next couple years. The two remained devotedly to each other, and Rit returned to his position with a renewed understanding and acceptance of himself. For 30 years, Rit and Vihaan made their careers at Dar Ar-Rickham, but frequently went back to England where their families were, and traveled voraciously over the breaks. They never had children of their own, although they fostered many students.
🦊UNSPEAKABLE and CONSULTANT In 2033, Nikhil, Rit’s brother, contracted a debilitating illness in the line of duty. Rit returned to England to join the healing team working on the poisoning. Tragically, by the time the healers realized the illness was contagious, Rit had contracted it as well. Nikhil struggled in and out of consciousness for 2 weeks before succumbing. Vihaan quickly traveled back as well to be with Rit in what they feared might be his last few days. Desperate, Rit proposed a risky concoction of procedures on himself. The ritual successfully provided a diagnosis and treatment that saved both him and the rest of the healing team, but left Rit with a prognosis of less than a year. Confronted with the possibility of amputation for a chance of living, Rit resolved instead to spend his remaining days free. Rit and Vihaan spent the next four months cruising the world before Rit’s illness eventually returned him to St. Mungo’s to pass away.
Following his spouse’s passing, Vihaan returned to stay with his father, then residing in wizarding Ireland. Vihaan’s reputation as an alchemist now more than compensated for his lackluster grades and he was invited to share his unique cursebreaking and practical alchemy experience for a specific project for the Department of Mysteries. One project led to another in his line of research and Vihaan spent the next 9 years in various chambers of the Department of Mysteries before finally deciding he wanted to retire to spend more time with his father, whose health was rather suddenly deteriorating. After his father passed away as well, Vihaan continued to wander alone: He spent some time in the United States consulting with an artificer and wandmaker. He visited Arine after her divorce, and helped one of his former foster children reconnect with a lover.
⚗️PROFESSOR of ALCHEMY When Professor Juan Amorocho retired in 2046, Vihaan agreed to substitute for him until Headmaster Timothy Steele could find a more permanent alchemy professor. One year turned to multiple, and after fiddling around and learning to teach, Vihaan found he enjoyed life back at Hogwarts–retirement was not for him it seemed, and being amongst the students seemed to bring some energy back into his life. He finally agreed to stay on in an official capacity.
As a professor, Vihaan primarily paid attention to his Alchemy students. He noticed a decline in the class size of alchemy over the years and after consulting with his professional contacts and fellow professors, embarked on a mission to rebrand Alchemy as not solely for arcane research. His teaching shifted focus as well, from intense alchemical theory and practice to practical puzzle-solving and critical thinking that could be applicable to many fields of magical work.
While his efforts have had mixed appreciation and results thus far, Vihaan’s keen mentorship of his alchemy students earned him recognition and when Head of Slytherin House Jason Hill retired in 2058, he recommended Vihaan for the position. Vihaan has promised to extend his purview of care to all Slytherin students, although he cheekily acknowledges that he probably will continue to favor his alchemy students of all houses.
xxx⚗️RELATIONSHIPS🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FAMILY
■ Spouse: Rit Kadandale (pureblood)
■ Cousin, best friend, and partner in crime: Qarin Narain (halfblood)
FRIENDS
■ Various alchemists, artificers, and people around the world.
■ Anthony Jacobson, Nikhil Kadandale, Violet Kyson, Arine Yasunari
■ Professors of Hogwarts
⚗NOTE: If it still matters, the Vihaan people know today is actually Qarin Narain.
xxx⚗️UPDATES🦊xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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